Another shocking 'MeToo' case

Busan major resigns in disgrace over sexual harassment

Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don, a political bigwig known for his dogged perseverance, abruptly resigned Thursday. Even more astonishing than his unexpected resignation was the reason ― sexual harassment. Oh was a veteran administrator, who had held all the key posts in the nation's second-largest city, and had even served as the minister of oceans and fisheries.

Oh, a member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), lost in Busan's mayoral elections three times and won on his fourth attempt wielding his affinity with the people and tenacity as weapons. It is pitiable that such a politician had to leave his post halfway because of alleged sexual harassment.

“In a recent meeting that lasted five minutes, there was unnecessary physical contact with a person. And I realized that this could be recognized as an indecent assault,” Oh said in a hurriedly-arranged news conference. During the meeting with a female employee at his office, Oh reportedly touched a specific part of the woman's body. It was not the first “MeToo” scandal involving Oh. At an office get-together in 2018, he was criticized for having female workers sit on both sides of him, and was suspected of harassing a female official last year.

Sadly, Oh is not the only politician with a despicable lack of awareness about sexual abuse. His case came after the then South Chungcheong Province Gov. An Hee-jung resigned over sexually assaulting his secretary in March 2018. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for sexual assault. The shocking “MeToo” case cost him his political career.

It is regrettable that sexual misconduct by ranking officials, elected or appointed, seem to have continued endlessly. Nor is officialdom the only problematic area. People, mainly men, with even a little bit of power are committing various kinds of human rights abuses, furtively or even openly, in all corners of this society.

The midway resignation of elected officials causes considerable costs and other adverse effects, socially and nationally. Korea is wasting scores of billions of won a year to hold various re-elections and by-elections. A bigger problem is the social loss, such as political instability and administrative voids.

All this shows why public officials should be prudent in their words, acts and mindsets. The Busan Metropolitan Government must go all out to prevent any inconvenience to its citizens. Especially, the nation's largest port city should do its best to get over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic through perfect public-private cooperation.